Israel pays for additional F-35s

[optimist]

Who would believe that Israel sent even a manned jet, into Lebanese airspace on a recognisance mission?

[krorvik]

SouthFront ? !!!! We're quoting SouthFront now? !!!

Considered to be little else than a russian propaganda-channel, aimed at defense-savvy readers.

[tincansailor]

Who would believe that Israel sent even a manned jet, into Lebanese airspace on a recognisance mission?

Good point. Especially sending a stealth fighter with external bombs on it, so the enemy can track it? Sort of defeats the whole idea of using stealth aircraft in high threat environments? You don't put bombs, and fuel tanks under the wings till after you destroy the IADS, not before. If it's true, the nicest thing you can call it is poor tactics. If your not being kind you can call it stupid.

[fang]

Today (Dec 6th, 2017) Israeli Air Force F-35i Adir declared operational.
Meaning all the 9 Adirs of 140FS can be part of the IAF operational activity anywhere anytime.
Israel is the second country after US to declare the F-35 operational, next year Israel will get another 6 A/C.
http://www.iaf.org.il/4467-49791-en/IAF.aspx

[hythelday]

Today (Dec 6th, 2017) Israeli Air Force F-35i Adir declared operational.
Meaning all the 9 Adirs of 140FS can be part of the IAF operational activity anywhere anytime.
Israel is the second country after US to declare the F-35 operational, next year Israel will get another 6 A/C.
http://www.iaf.org.il/4467-49791-en/IAF.aspx

In case anyone missex it, two things happened during past 7 days:

1) Houthis launched Iranian supplied land based cruise missile at UAE
2) Israel bombed Iranian/Hezbollah targets in the vicinity of Damascus on 1st, 3rd and 4th of December.

Which probably means next time you hear something "unexpectedly" exploding in Syria there will be F-35s involved, either directly or as eyes in the sky.

[spazsinbad]

Israel declares F-35s ready for operations
06 Dec 2017 Barbara Opall-Rome

"...In a recent interview, retired Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, the former Israeli Air Force commander who signed off on the decision to procure the F-35, told this reporter that the fifth-generation fighter offers “unique strategic advantage here in this neighborhood, both in terms of deterrence and also operational capabilities.”

According to Nehushtan, the service is working methodically and capably to integrate “unique Israeli capabilities” into the new F-35 force and to integrate the new fighters into a network that encompasses the rest of Israel’s combat air power.

“We certainly will see the benefits of having the unique virtues of these F-35 capabilities in the Middle East,” he said. “This know-how is developing, and I’m sure the IAF will know how best to utilize the F-35 and integrate it into the greater IAF and to apply these holistic capabilities to the challenges Israel faces.”

When asked whether the F-35 would play a lead role in a possible strike on Iran, the former Air Force commander replied: “If or when the state of Israel determines the need to exercise its sovereign right to self-defense, the F-35 absolutely will be a key player.”

He noted, however, that given Iran’s apparent compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran, he doesn’t foresee near-term use of military force. “The agreement actually put Iran at some distance away [from a nuclear bomb] in the short term. But in the long term, it certainly has holes. Nevertheless, we’re now living in an international context of the agreement. So I don’t see, in that context, any attack coming soon.”

Israel has contracted for 50 F-35s, and long-term plans envision another 25 aircraft later in the coming decade."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/12 ... perations/

[spazsinbad]

Israel declares its F-35I fleet combat-ready
07 Dec 2017 Arie Egozi

"The Israeli air force on 6 December declared its Lockheed Martin F-35I "Adir" combat aircraft as having achieved initial operational capability. Air force commander Maj Gen Amikam Norkin confirmed the milestone involving the stealthy type, nine of which are assigned to its 140th "Golden Eagle" squadron at Nevatim air base. The declaration followed an inspection performed on five of the unit's jets, after which the service says "the aircraft was found fit for operational activity"....

...[Lt Col Yotam] notes: "We still have tests, development of combat doctrines and extensive learning before us."...

...Israel has asked the USA to allow it to integrate further Israeli-developed weapons and electronic warfare systems on its Adir fleet. The nation is already working to add Rafael's Python 5 and Derby air-to-air missiles to the aircraft, along with the company's Litening 5 targeting pod. Israeli sources say the new request is being evaluated "by the highest echelons", and would require access to the "heart" of the stealth fighter's software.

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... dy-443979/

[steve2267]

What does Litening 5 do that Lightning EOTS does not do?

[SpudmanWP]

Pay money to an Israeli company.

More than likely what we will see is an Advanced EOTS based on the Lightning5.

[hornetfinn]

Pay money to an Israeli company.

More than likely what we will see is an Advanced EOTS based on the Lightning5.

Very true. It seems like Litening 5 is very much like what Advanced EOTS is going to be. It has these over current EOTS:

- SWIR
- Color CCD-TV (visible light camera for daylight use)
- It might also have somewhat larger sensor for improved range (not certain, but possible)

First two would improve performance against ground targets, especially for recognition and identification. SWIR and color CCD-TV have higher resolution and contrast than MWIR camera and have some other advantages like being able to see through glass (might be useful in urban environment). I'd say that if all of these can be fuzed using sensor fusion techniques, the end result would be very good especially for target recogniton and identification. For detecting regular military targets the improvement would not be that big though since MWIR is generally the best optical system for that. But naturally recognition and identification are extremely important and improving performance there will be big thing.

[neptune]

Pay money to an Israeli company.

More than likely what we will see is an Advanced EOTS based on the Lightning5.

....question "NOT" about Advanced EOTS!; earlier in the JSF program (3-5 yrs.) an improvement was made in the EOTS and was cutin to the production line per my memory. I can't "search" this event and less memory about the "improvement", any link to this earlier event would be appreciated.

Now back to the program, Advanced EOTS Block 4.x!

Thanks,
Neptune

[SpudmanWP]

Without an idea of what item was changed... No clue.

Here is a doc from 2015 that shows a lot it internal views of the EOTS and later in the doc also goes into some updates that have been done to EOTS.

F-35_Lightning_II_EOTS.pdf

(1.91 MiB) Downloaded 3333 times

[nutshell]

Pay money to an Israeli company.

More than likely what we will see is an Advanced EOTS based on the Lightning5.

That's a reason and it's understandable.

Also, 100% proprietary coding.

Honestly speaking, the Israeli were smart about that.

[spazsinbad]

An 'ordinary' article about personnel training for the F-35i, did not know that English is a requirement - but makes sense.

Fifth Generation Instruction: “Adir” (F-35I) technician training and instruction in the IAF are on the cutting edge of today’s technology
19 Dec 2017 Carmel Stern & Nadav Shaham

"In the past few months, “Adir” (F-35I) pilots have begun performing sorties in the advanced simulator established in Nevatim AFB. An instruction center for the technicians responsible for maintaining the aircraft now operates under the same roof as well. “This instruction center is the first of its kind in the technical division. It allows us to do things we haven’t done before in training. We teach 25 different professions that have to do with the ‘Adir’ aircraft division here”, shared Maj. Tsahi Gino, Commander of the “Adir” Technician Instruction Center.

Every “Adir” (F-35I) technician is chosen for the role ahead of time, for prior knowledge of the English language, among other things. The qualification process includes a ten week-long course in the instruction center. “The fact that we operate from an operational base contributes to the quality of our instruction. We visit the squadron every day; feel the aircraft and the connection with the squadron”, added Maj. Gino....

...In addition, we have already performed a pilot of a basic training program for officers from HQ, with the goal of exposing them to the ‘Adir’”, explained Master Sergeant Haim Sabah from the Material Directorate.

End-to-End Training
The center holds a number of courses simultaneously. “The center provides end-to-end instruction. The technicians arrive when they draft and we escort them throughout their service. After completing a basic training period, they can sign off on an aircraft in their first week in the squadron”, emphasized Maj. Gino. “Thanks to advanced simulation technology we can train the technicians with minimum interaction with the aircraft”."

Source: http://www.iaf.org.il/pZnTQ/4467-49819-en/IAF.aspx

[mixelflick]

The fact Israel wants more F-35's is really all you need to know.

I do question their interest in B's as it seems for 6 decades they've lived without a VSTOL fighter. I suppose they have their reasons, but I was hoping to see that $ go to an F-15 2040C type buy.